Five U.S. port cities are listed for Operation Sail’s 2026 semiquincentennial program.
Operation Sail, commonly called OpSail, is a maritime celebration featuring large sailing vessels and naval ships. For the 250th anniversary of American independence, its 2026 schedule lists port calls in New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York City, and Boston. The ships are expected to travel between these locations and participate in races and public maritime events.
The schedule begins in New Orleans, Louisiana, from May 28 to June 1. It then moves to Norfolk, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, New York City, and Boston, Massachusetts. New York City’s port call is scheduled around July 4, the central date of the United States semiquincentennial.
The 2026 gathering is planned as the largest assembly of tall ships associated with Operation Sail since 1976, when the United States celebrated its Bicentennial. Participating vessels are expected from several countries, including Italy, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Poland, and Uruguay.
Operation Sail is sometimes mistaken for a single race or a single-city festival. In the 2026 program, it is a multi-port celebration spanning several American coastal cities.